Difficult start for Liz Truss. Britain’s new prime minister has sacked trade minister Conor Burns following a complaint of “serious misconduct,” a Downing Street spokesman said on Friday.
“Following an allegation of serious misconduct, the Prime Minister has asked Conor Burns to leave government with immediate effect,” it said.
“The prime minister took this action immediately after learning of this allegation and it is clear that all ministers must have high standards of behaviour, as the public rightly expects,” the goalkeeper added.
However, Downing Street did not elaborate on the charges against Conor Burns.
According to various media, Conor Burns behaved inappropriately during the Conservative conference, which was held this week in Birmingham and was marked by strong dissension within the party.
Troubled government truss
Under pressure from its majority, the Truss government notably renounced on Monday to abolish the top tax bracket, a sea change that weakened the prime minister by raising doubts about her ability to stay the course.
Liz Truss became Prime Minister on September 5, after succeeding Boris Johnson. Conor Burns, 50, was Minister for Northern Ireland in the Johnson government. He is described as an ally of the latter.
Conor Burns said on Twitter that he would “fully cooperate with the party’s investigation” and that he “hoped to clear his name” of the charges.
“I hope the party is as quick to investigate as it was to rush to judgment,” he added.
Boris Johnson had to leave office in July, having lost the confidence of several of his ministers, after a succession of crises.
Dozens of cabinet ministers had resigned when it emerged that Boris Johnson had learned of the sexual allegations against MP Chris Pincher before tasking him with parliamentary discipline of Conservative MPs. Chris Pincher had resigned, taking Boris Johnson with him.
Source: BFM TV
